In a time where news is coming at us nonstop, it can be tough to know where to turn for reliable fact-based information that goes beyond just the headlines designed to catch our attention. Whether you're after trustworthy news sources, in-depth analysis, or just want to know how to take action on important issues, here is a list of suggested sites that have you covered. From breaking news with context to political action items that you can actually act on, these platforms will help you stay informed and make a difference. Check them out!
AP News
Reuters
All Sides
National Public Radio
BBC World News
Wall Street Journal - subscription required
The Economist: The world in brief - subscription required for full access
The Guardian US News
NOTUS
Politico
News Nation
USAFacts - has unbiased data-driven reports on issues and government spending; they also offer a free weekly subscription newsletter
The Bulwark - A newsletter delivered to your inbox is an offer, or you can just access the information on the site. A lot of content here is free, but there are some additional benefits for paid subscribers.
The Contrarian - A newsletter delivered to your inbox is an offer, or you can just access the information on the site. A lot of content here is free, but there are some additional benefits for paid subscribers.
The Washington Post - subscription required
The New York Times - subscription required for full access
These sources should provide factually accurate information, however if what you’re reading doesn't pass the sniff test, double-check before sharing. Also, it’s very important NOT to repeat any misinformation, disinformation, or malinformation,even with the intention of pointing out its inaccuracies. Reposting only amplifies the spread of that information.. We know this is really hard to do, but the best practice is to IGNORE IT.. Instead, create a new post with the correct information.
Analysis/ Discussion/ Broader Picture
The sites below are all on Substack. A newsletter delivered to your inbox is available, or you can just access the information on the site. A lot of content here is free, but there are some additional benefits for paid subscribers.
Letters from an American by Heather Cox Richardson - a well-regarded American historian.
Hopium Chronicles by Simon Rosenberg - A seasoned political strategist and commentator.
Reframing America by Antonia Scatton - Part of Antonia’s description of her site: “In order to capture the attention of the public, we have to find a way to provoke the debates we should be having, and that means figuring out how to frame our issues, how to push the right buttons with hope instead of hate and with mutual support instead of fear.”
Today’s Edition Newsletter by Robert Hubbell
Robert Reich - “The reason I write this daily newsletter is not just to inform (and occasionally amuse) you, but also to arm you with the truth — about how the system works and doesn’t, where power is located and where it’s lacking, and the myths and lies used by those who are blocking positive social change — so you can fight more effectively for the common good.”
If you are fired up and looking for some actions you can take, check out these options:
Easy A: Meaningful Actions in 5 minutes or Less - from Red Wine & Blue “Your go-to source for quick and easy actions you can take in five minutes or less about the issues you care about.”
Virginia Grassroots Coalition - "The Coalition brings together grassroots groups working in Virginia to collectively strategize and support progressive candidates and policies. During the VA Legislative Session, our Working Groups research and endorse bills."
NetworkNOVA - Their weekly newsletters always have call to action items.
Indivisible - Indivisible is "a grassroots movement of thousands of local Indivisible groups with a mission to elect progressive leaders, rebuild our democracy, and defeat the Trump agenda." You can find concrete actions to take right on their website, and you can also find actions by the national organization and by individual groups on Indivisible page on Mobilize.
Chop Wood, Carry Water - by Jessica Craven is a daily political activism newsletter telling you how you can make a difference by taking 5-7 minutes worth of EASY actions.
NOVA Blue Squad will be writing postcards to Virginian voters to alert them about the importance of the upcoming Gubernatorial and State Delegate election. Keep an eye on our newsletter, our calendar, and our Red Wine & Blue Trouble Nation members page!
Ad Fontes Media With this interactive media bias chart, you can zoom in and out on the chart to find a particular source and see where it sits on their Political Bias and News Value and Reliability matrix. Detailed information about most of the sources can be found by clicking on the thumbnail image of the source. Use search box to isolate the displayed sources (in bold) and see their individual articles or episodes. There are more features available to paid subscribers. You can download a static version of their chart here.
MediaBiasFactCheck (MBFC) Excellent daily assessment of top stories and fact checking statements.
All Sides This site appears in the list above for news sources, but it is also a valuable resource for information on media bias. From their main Media Bias page you can navigate to and learn more about their Media Bias Ratings, Media Bias Chart, Fact Check Bias Chart, and the Methodology used to determine their ratings. They also have a great guide titled, How to Spot 16 Types of Media Bias, because as they note “Everyone is biased — and that's okay. There's no such thing as unbiased news. But hidden media bias misleads, manipulates and divides us. So everyone should learn how to spot media bias.”